Caleb

When we think of Caleb in the Bible, we usually think of “Joshua and Caleb,” and Joshua usually takes precedence in our minds, largely because Joshua was the one to whom was given leadership of Israel after the death of Moses. Let us take a few moments and consider the figure of Caleb.

When we first see Caleb in Numbers 13-14, he is one of the twelve spies sent to spy out the land of Canaan. When he returns with the others, he and Joshua are in the minority. While all admit to the greatness of the land, ten of the spies convince the people that the residents of the land are too difficult and enemy to fight. Joshua and Caleb alone put their faith in God and stand with the Lord, convinced that they can take what the Lord has given them. It nearly ends with them being stoned by the children of Israel.

Think about this for a moment: it wasn't enemies that Caleb was standing against. It was his friends, his family, his neighbors, and nearly everyone he knew that he stood in opposition against. It was against others who claimed to follow God. Yet, knowing the will of the Lord, he was willing to stand firm in his faith. This a lesson for us: to stand firm with God, regardless of who may oppose us. Caleb, and Joshua, was rewarded for their faithfulness: they alone of those over the age of 20 were allowed to enter the promised land.

And there is a lesson or two in this for as well. The first is the more obvious one: God rewards those who willingly follow and trust in Him. Just as Caleb was rewarded for his faithfulness, we too are guaranteed an entry to a promised land if we are faithful; a promised land far greater than that of Canaan. The other lesson I would like to consider is this: think about how much Caleb would have stood out among the people of Israel. We learn that he was 40 at the time the spies went into the land. After wandering for 40 years, he would have been 80 at the time of entering the promised land. Only he and Joshua would have been that old, with the nearest in age being around 60. He would have stood out. Sometimes doing what the Lord requires means we will be obviously different. We should be willing to stand firm.

In Joshua 14 and 15 we again see Caleb, this time at the age 85. At age 85, he requests the land that had been promised to him, and it is granted. To receive it, he attacks the city of Hebron. Hebron was a fortified city on a hill, difficult to attack. And it was there that the sons of Anak, who caused the other ten spies so much fear, dwelt. At age 85, Caleb, still putting his faith in the Lord, attacks and defeats the city of Hebron.

You are never too old to serve the Lord. You are never too old to lose faith. You are never too old to be of value in God's service. It's easy to make excuses on age, lack of experience, cost, or any number of other things. Instead, we should have the attitude of Caleb: that all things are possible with the Lord.

Caleb was not a sidekick to Joshua. He was a man of faith that we can all emulate.